diff --git a/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py b/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py
index 7d303be1c..05d1dd5f7 100644
--- a/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py
+++ b/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import time
 import random
 
 from ..compat import compat_os_name
+from ..heartbeat import Heartbeat
 from ..utils import (
     decodeArgument,
     encodeFilename,
@@ -372,6 +373,12 @@ class FileDownloader(object):
                     '[download] Sleeping %s seconds...' % (
                         sleep_interval_sub))
                 time.sleep(sleep_interval_sub)
+
+        if info_dict.get('heartbeat'):
+            self.heartbeat = Heartbeat(self.ydl, info_dict.get('heartbeat'))
+            self.add_progress_hook(self.heartbeat.check_download_status)
+            self.heartbeat.start()
+
         return self.real_download(filename, info_dict)
 
     def real_download(self, filename, info_dict):
diff --git a/youtube_dlc/extractor/niconico.py b/youtube_dlc/extractor/niconico.py
index eb07ca776..1c6172794 100644
--- a/youtube_dlc/extractor/niconico.py
+++ b/youtube_dlc/extractor/niconico.py
@@ -254,6 +254,18 @@ class NiconicoIE(InfoExtractor):
                 }
             }).encode())
 
+        heartbeat_url = '{}/{}?_format=json&_method=PUT'.format(session_api_endpoint['url'], session_response['data']['session']['id'])
+        heartbeat_headers = {
+            'Accept': 'application/json',
+            'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        }
+        heartbeat = {
+            'data': json.dumps(session_response['data']),
+            'headers': heartbeat_headers,
+            'interval': session_api_data['heartbeat_lifetime'] / 2000,
+            'url': heartbeat_url,
+        }
+
         resolution = video_quality.get('resolution', {})
 
         return {
@@ -264,6 +276,7 @@ class NiconicoIE(InfoExtractor):
             'vbr': float_or_none(video_quality.get('bitrate'), 1000),
             'height': resolution.get('height'),
             'width': resolution.get('width'),
+            'heartbeat': heartbeat,
         }
 
     def _real_extract(self, url):
diff --git a/youtube_dlc/heartbeat.py b/youtube_dlc/heartbeat.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0b0bb838c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/youtube_dlc/heartbeat.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# coding: utf-8
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+import threading
+import traceback
+
+from .utils import (
+    compat_str,
+    encode_compat_str,
+    sanitized_Request
+)
+
+
+class Heartbeat(object):
+    def __init__(self, ydl, params):
+        self.ydl = ydl
+
+        data = params.get('data')
+        if isinstance(data, compat_str):
+            data = data.encode()
+        # Python 2 does not allow us to set HTTP method
+        # it is POST if Request has data, otherwise GET
+        self.request = sanitized_Request(
+            params.get('url'),
+            data=data,
+            headers=params.get('headers', {})
+        )
+
+        self.interval = params.get('interval', 30)
+        self.cancelled = False
+        self.parent_thread = threading.current_thread()
+        self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self.__heartbeat)
+
+    def start(self):
+        self.ydl.to_screen('[heartbeat] Heartbeat every %s seconds' % self.interval)
+        self.thread.start()
+
+    def cancel(self):
+        self.cancelled = True
+
+    def check_download_status(self, progress):
+        status = progress.get('status')
+        if status == 'finished' or status == 'error':
+            self.cancel()
+
+    def __heartbeat(self):
+        while not self.cancelled:
+            try:
+                if self.ydl.params.get('verbose'):
+                    self.ydl.to_screen('[heartbeat]')
+                self.ydl.urlopen(self.request)
+            except Exception:
+                self.ydl.report_warning("Heartbeat failed")
+                if self.ydl.params.get('verbose'):
+                    self.ydl.to_stderr(encode_compat_str(traceback.format_exc()))
+            self.parent_thread.join(self.interval)
+            if not self.parent_thread.is_alive():
+                break